Anti-vaccine activists contributing to measles outbreaks around the U.S.

Outbreaks of measles, a disease once considered practically dormant, are on the rise once again, in part because of the spread of anti-vaccine activism, Think Progress reported on Friday.

A report released last year by the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that measles cases were recorded at a 20-year high, with 80 percent of the victims being people who did not get receive the MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) vaccine. Many of those who fell ill said they did not get the vaccine because of “philosophical differences.”

WABC-TV reported earlier this week that at least five people have been hospitalized due to measles New York City. In two of the cases, the disease was reportedly transmitted inside a doctor’s office. Officials in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Texas have also reported measles cases.

About the Author

Arturo R. García is the managing editor at Racialicious.com. He is based in San Diego, California and has written for both print and broadcast media, including contributions to GlobalComment.com, The Root and Comment Is Free. Follow him on Twitter at @ABoyNamedArt